I needed him. I don't know why I thought it would be different. I've needed him for two years and it's never been different but I thought...I don't know what I thought. That something would have changed? That he'd finally be there for me?
He was with Daire. She was laughing and I don't know what I thought I was interrupting. I don't know what I thought when I saw them.
I know what I saw.
They were naked and kissing. He was touching her. They were having sex.
I think I've known for a long time, the way he talked about her, the way she talked about him, the way he dropped everything whenever she called, the way he'd defend her even when she was clearly in the wrong.
I should have realized what it meant sooner.
I stood outside the door and I couldn't move. Dad didn't know I was there.
I don’t know how long I stood there, my head pressed against the wall as tears flowed down my face.
Then I heard him speak.
He told her I’m weak, useless, that I had none of her fire. That he doesn’t love me or Mom, that he never has. He wanted a boy, not a bitch who can’t even handle a little teasing.
Teasing? That’s what he said it was. They have bullied me relentlessly for two years and it was teasing to him.
Daire told him that she’d be his little girl and he laughed and said that she’s his good girl, the only one that mattered.
He’s never loved me. He’s never cared about me.
Daithí puts the diary down and looks around. The room is very, very quiet. No one speaks. I don’t think anyone knows what to say. Daithí is watching me from across the table. He’s not gloating about being right. No, he’s pissed that his sister has been used as a scapegoat and has been hurt for Daire’s bullshit.
My question is, who bruised Quinn’s cheek? Was it Daire or Ronan?
"She was nineteen," Caden says, very quietly. "She was nineteen years old and her own father..."
"Caden," Daithí says.
"Don't." Caden's voice cracks slightly and he controls it. "I know. I know. I'm just—" He stops.
Ciro swears under his breath, low and continuous, in Italian.
Daire and Tony, it couldn't have been a recent thing. Not if Orla had suspected it before she found them together.
He was fucking his boss’ daughter when she was underage. It fucking finally clicks into place.
Ronan's right-hand man. He’s the man with access to everything that moved through the Delaney operations. The man whose daughter died and who remained in his post afterward, loyal and present, which I told myself didn't add up and now I understand why.
Tony Geraghty isn't staying in his post because Ronan told him to accept it. Tony Geraghty is staying in his post because Daire has years of leverage on him and he has nowhere to go.
Daithí picks up the journal and leaves while I’m still processing everything. He doesn't speak on his way out. Both Caden and Conn follow him out, none of them looking back, but I’m not finished with them yet. I have a hell of a lot more questions for them, including finding out which bastard hit Quinn.
My brothers and Marco file out of my office behind the Delaney brothers, leaving just my father and I in the office. My father is quiet for a few minutes, and I wait. I know better than to interrupt him while he’s thinking.
"You know Vittoria likes her," he says, and I look at him. "Valentina too." He tilts his head to the side and grins. "Actually, all four of them do. Vittoria, Valentina, Sofia, and Elisabetta." He holds my gaze. "All four of them are extremely protective of her, Vittoria especially."
I wait, knowing that this is leading somewhere.
"Do you know what Vittoria told me after she had spent time with Quinn in the library?" he asks.
"No." But I have a feeling that I’m not going to like what she’s told him.
"Quinn confided in her about Orla. She told both Valentina and Vittoria the entire truth of what happened, and they believed her." He looks at me steadily. "The women are angry that you’d think so low of your new bride, Lorenzo. According to all four women, she’s sweet and kind, and wouldn’t hurt a fly."
